Our 144th auction has now closed, achieving some fantastic hammer prices in the process.  Here a few of our highlights from this month.

W & A Gilbey bottle from the wreck of the SS Politician

So it seems that history does in fact have a price, and that price is £11,500!  We love to see bottles like this come through the auction as they highlight the crucial importance of whisky to Scottish material culture, showing how the mighty dram intersects with Scottish history at every turn.

Yamazaki 1984 25th Anniversary

Distilled almost four decades ago this tremendous example of Japanese craftsmanship was bottled to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the birth of the Yamazaki brand.  This particular milestone in Japanese distilling history does not come cheap however, with this lot reaching the princely sum of £13,000 at auction.

Laphroaig 1970 14 Year Old Cadenhead’s for SCOMA GMBH 75cl

We knew this was a great bottle as soon as we laid eyes on it, and it proved to be so achieving a thoroughly respectable £10,000 hammer price at auction.  It’s not everyday you see a Laphroaig distilled over 50 years ago so kudos to the eventual buyer who has secured themselves a special bottling for sure.

Hanyu Ichiro’s Malt Card Eight of Hearts

A longstanding favourite of those amongst us who collect Japanese whisky, the Hanyu Ichiro’s Malt Card Series is a collection of bottles highly prized and regularly sought-after.  We don’t see them all that often, indeed this was only the second sale of a Eight of Hearts through our auctions, so the final hammer price of £5,800 (the highest we’ve ever sold it for) seems a good deal for both buyer and seller!

With yet another successful auction behind us we now start the hard work of preparing next months auction.  The 145th auction will be going live Friday the 30th of June and there is still time to get your bottles submitted with the deadline for bottles not until Friday the 16th of June.  Have a good month everyone, we’ll be in touch again once the next auction is good to go.

2010 Auchroisk 12 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Single Refill Sherry Butt Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) $59.99 View

The lovely Auchroisk distillery has been a favorite of blenders and independent bottlers alike since its founding in 1972. It offers consistently delicious creamy Speyside character, a wonderful base malt to build a blend around. The distillery in Mulben has also been used for vatting of the J&B Highland malts before blending at the main J&B facility to the south. We’ve had many wonderful Auchroisk over the years and we’ve managed to keep the prices unreasonably low on these lovely casks. This one was filled into an old sherry butt in 2010 and bottled at an impressive 60.3% without chillfiltration of coloring of any kind. It absolutely should not be consumed without the addition of a healthy dollop of high-quality spring water, which is crucial for releasing the supple fruit and sweet malty character. It offers a creamy rich texture and a rich chocolate-y character which is on full display once proper adornment has been achieved. It also loves air and needs plenty of time to open in the glass.

2014 Caol Ila 8 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Single Ex-Bourbon Barrel Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) $59.99 View

2009 Blair Athol 13 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Single ex-Bourbon Barrel Cask Strength Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) $64.99 View

If you didn’t already know, we’re huge fans of the bucolic Blair Athol distillery just outside the highland resort town of Pitlochry. The stone walls covered in ivy at this, the spiritual home of the Bell’s Blended Scotch, are one reason we love this exceptional whisky. If you do manage to make it to this special distillery, you might notice giddy septegenarian fans of the UK only Bell’s Blend swarming the small distillery like it was vatican, but it is the VIP warehouse tour that keeps us going back. That’s because nothing beats Blair Athol straight from the bung of a big beautiful barrel. But the closest we can come is to bottle it for you straight out of the cask. This 13 year old ex-bourbon barrel is truly a special expression. With a bit of air, this youngster shows exceptional complexity. Unusually, it tastes absolutely divine right out of the bottle at a cool 111 proof -rich, buttery and malty, but has plenty of spice to keep it from feeling overly sweet. A stupendous example of this underappreciated distillery.

2007 Glengoyne 15 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Single Hogshead Cask Strength Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) $74.99 View

1996 Invergordon 26 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Single Hogshead Cask Strength Single Grain Scotch Whisky (700ml) $79.99 View

Grain Whisky has had a renaissance over the last decade. It turns out that despite all the clamoring for single malt, it’s hard not to love exceptionally well aged and delicious grain. Especially when you factor in price! While we have bottled quite a bit of grain over the years, we’ve had to get much much pickier on the single casks we purchase. The prices have climbed a lot in the last 5 years and as a result we only choose a couple of exemplary casks a year now. This 26 year old Invergordon is one such cask. Relatively young in the world of disitlleries, the Invergordon facility was built in 1960 and today is owned by Whyte and Mackay which took control of the distillery in the early 90’s. This would have been distilled shortly after their takeover and likely has been in the Laings warehouses since shortly after distillation.We strive to partner with long term holders of whisky whenever we can as the pricing is usually significantly better than what is available on the open broker’s market for Scotch. Here this quarter of a century+ year old cask can be had for a song.

2008 Orkney’s Finest 14 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Single Refill Hogshead Cask Strength Orkney Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) $79.99 View

While there seems to be no shortage of Orkney malt on the market, there is a serious dearth of it at screaming good prices. For just 80 bucks this famous Ornkey distillery at cask strength and a respectable 14 years is a heck of a deal. Aged in a refill hogshead this shows off that beautiful heathery peat that the distillery is famous for. Bottled at its natural cask strength of 51.7% and without coloring or chill filtration.

2012 Laphroaig 10 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Single Ex-Bourbon Barrel Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) $89.99 View

It’s comical to think Laphroaig is charging $350 for their official bottling single casks that are 7 years old! We obvioulsy passed on that because we are still finding exceptional gems like this. Here we have a 10 year old for just $90! All that big bombastic peat and iodine in a classic ex-Bourbon cask giving the balaced vanilla and creamy malt center stage. At 53.5% ABV and without coloring or chill filtration, this is surely one of the best ways to add more of Islay’s Southern shore to your life.

2008 Bunnahabhain 14 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Single Hogshead Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) $109.99 View

The old distillery just to the north of Port Askaig was founded in 1881. It’s become one of the best loved Islay malts, despite its normally gentle character. We’ve had several lovely casks of naked Bunnah over the last few years, but this one truly stands out. The great northern Islay distiller is renowned for capturing that ocean character without relying on heavy peat smoke. In fact, the distillery makes sure to note that their whisky contain less than 2 ppm of phenol, making it one of two regularly produced unpeated Islay malts, but this little whisky might fall outside the standard specs of their flagship malt. This beautiful refill hogshead was distilled in September of 2008 and bottled at cask strength of 54.2% abv in October of 2022. While it is by no means a big peat bomb, there does seem to be some seriously intense aromatic character that other bottlings have lacked. A big snappy salty nose, coupled with a rich caramelly sweetness. Rich upfront peat, which quickly subsides into a complex sweet earthiness. There’s no question that this whisky will confound some Bunnah lovers, perhaps this batch came right after one of the Moine batches, but for anyone but the most sensitive to peat, it will perfectly classic slightly more than lightly peated Islay in the best possible way.

1992 Cameronbridge 30 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Single Hogshead Cask Strength Single Grain Scotch Whisky (700ml) $139.99 View

There was once a time when old grain was completely under appreciated. That meant we could snag very old casks for next to nothing. But the market has changed, The days of 50 year old grain for $300 are long gone. We do occasionally see good old grain, but often the prices are not far off what you’ve expect to see on a single malt, and one thing we cannot stand for is overpriced single grain. So we wait and watch the market and eventually we come across a great cask like this that offers three full decades of maturation for what seems like last century’s pricing. The Cameronbridge distillery was the first in Scotland to adopt the new design of Robert Stein. Founded in 1824, the distillery is now important hub for Diageo’s spirit production of all kinds. This would have been distilled right after renovations of the facility were completed to allow for dual production. Distilled in September of 1992 and filled into an refill ex-bourbon barrel it spent just over 30 years aging and was bottled without chillfiltration or coloring in October of 2022 at a perfect 51.5% abv. Sweet and bourbon-y on the nose, we don’t often like to compare the two disperate styles of whisky, inspite of their technical similarities, but this one truly bridges the gap. Big, rich and bold, it doesn’t need more than a few minutes in the glass before it’s ready to enjoy!

1997 Ardmore (Unpeated) 25 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Single Refill Hogshead Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) $199.99 View

This unprecedented cask of Ardmore is as unusual as it is delicious. The famous Highland peater was built at Kennethmont, Aberdeenshire in 1898. The spiritual home of the once popular Teacher’s Highland Cream, its original owner was in fact the son of the founder of that brand, Adam Teacher. One of the last distillers to use coal to fire their stills, this barrel was distilled prior to their transition to gas in 2001. It boasts the ability to produce nearly 5.5 million liters of pure alcohol a year with 8 working stills. Nearly all of that is made with heavily peated barley. The distillery has remained relatively unknown, although the eastern Highlands is becoming a more significant corner of the single malt landscape, thanks to improvements over the last two decades of its two major neighbors – Glendronach & Glen Garioch. The enigmatic offering is one of the only we’ve ever seen from this special distillery to feature unpeated barley. That said the constant use of heavily peated barley remains in the system and so a very subtle smoke character remains in the whisky, but by no means is it the standard Ardmore. Add more than 2.5 decades and you’ve got an absolute gem. So, if you’re looking for great old school malt, but aren’t a fan of the smokey stuff or you’re just looking to expand your understanding of Scotch malt in a general sense, you’ll not want to miss this old Highlander. Exceptional in its own right, it represents a true oddity very unlikely to be seen again.

1997 Blair Athol 25 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Single Sherry Butt Cask Strength Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) $279.99 View

This beautiful cask of Blair Athol is truly the star of our 2023 campaign. We rarely get access to such exceptional old malt and if you’ve been following the K&L Exclusives, this will easily compare to the wonderful 25 year Cragganmore we sold last year. The Blair Athol malt is an absolute dream and when you put it into high quality casks, it can produce one of the Highland’s most complex and delicious whiskies. Founded in 1798 by John Steward and Robert Robertson, it changed hands many times until eventually being mothballed in 1932. IT was after that that Arthur Bell purchased the distillery to make it the home of his Bell’s Blend. Production start up again in 1949 and continues to produce the top dressing malt for blends. But a few special casks make it out of the system and we’re extremely lucky and proud to have procured this exceptional whisky. Fewer and fewer casks are able to offer this old malt experience for a relatively reasonable price. Any one looking for great old highland sherry should look no further. This is the best around.

2000 Laphroaig 22 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Single Hogshead Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) $349.99 View

It seems like forever since we’ve had 20+ year old blue chip distilleries on the docket for a reasonable price. It’s getting harder and harder to secure these casks, and this one is a veritable coup. Distilled in June of 2000 and bottled in October of 2022, this 22 year old beauty is finally on our shores. Aged in a refill Hogshead, this is all about the spirit and time. Elegant, leathery, briny, sweet barley, and chock full of that lovely peat that only really comes with long years in cask. Bottled without chill filtration or coloring at its natural cask strength of 48.5% ABV.

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

With the launch of The Hearach single malt whisky now officially on the horizon, we’d like to thank another group of people who have supported our work since the early days. Those of you who have invested in one of our limited private cask offerings have been part of the journey in a wonderful way and we hope you’ve enjoyed the experience so far. We’re now about to draw samples of those casks containing spirit at 7 years of age, so if you have one of our 2015 casks please check your email inbox for news.

We have no plans for another private release at the moment, but as always, if you have any questions about your cask just drop Harry a line via yourprivatecask@harrisdistillery.com

Meet The Hearach whisky

Discover something new, return to an old favourite or find inspiration for an impressive Father’s Day gift from our favourite bottles this month, selected by The Whisky Exchange head buyer Dawn Davies MW. We’ve selected ten whiskies we are sure will impress any whisky lover.

TOP 10 WHISKIES

With us turning up the heat this summer with outstanding sipping suggestions, we have just released FIVE fantastic bottlings that are cocktail inspired and sure to shake the senses. Enjoy diverse drams from different flavour profiles along with a NEW Single Cask Spirit and Vaults Collection bottling.

AND be sure not to miss our Vaults Collection classic pairing and cocktail for Cask No. 70.48: Espresso Romano. Inspired by The Tasting Panel notes, we decided to go for a literal interpretation pairing this new bottling with an Espresso Romano. Then we took it further, creating a delicious summer cocktail.

VAULTS COLLECTION FEATURE

VIEW NEW BOTTLINGS

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

‘Alter Ego’ release brings flavour twist to

Wire Works Whisky

-White Peak Distillery, Derbyshire-

This month will see an exciting, limited edition release from Derbyshire’s White Peak Distillery, revealing an alternative flavour expression of the Wire Works Whisky house style – ‘Alter Ego’.

Wire Works ‘Alter Ego’ has rich fruit flavours and a different take to its background light peat, extending the personality of Wire Works Whisky.

This limited edition single malt has been distilled with alternate cut points to previous Wire Works whiskies, bringing forward more fruit and allowing different elements of peat notes to shine through in the final spirit.  In addition to the change in the distillers’ cut points, the casks used for the selected vatting lean more on first fill ex-bourbon than in previous releases, bringing emphasis to the fruit notes, along with a bolder range of vanilla.

‘Alter Ego’ bottled at 51.5% ABV, maintains the balance of higher strength and approachability which has characterised previous releases of Wire Works Whisky.

Max Vaughan, founder of White Peak Distillery said: “We’re always keen to showcase the innovation and creativity we ourselves enjoy. ‘Alter Ego’ is an example of how we are exploring and developing different approaches during our whisky-making to reveal new personality in our spirit.”

“We’re still on a learning curve and it’s exciting to share this with customers and for the longer term we’re interested to get feedback on this release and hope that both our loyal Wire Works supporters and new whisky drinkers will enjoy the whisky for what it is – an approachable, fruit forward yet complex spirit with a wee bit more peat present in the glass.”

Earlier this year, White Peak released Caduro – its first ever permanent expression to the distillery’s stable of whiskies.

White Peak Distillery was founded seven years ago by husband-and-wife team Max & Claire Vaughan – both originally from Derbyshire – and continues to go from strength to strength. Last year saw the Distillery winning multiple awards not only for its whisky, but also for its Distillery visitor experiences and the much-celebrated Wire Works Whisky packaging.

‘Alter Ego’ will be available from 10^th June – via the Distillery shop and online, as well as from trade partners including Berry Bros. & Rudd, Master of Malt and select independents nationwide, RRP: £65 per 70cl.

(www.whitepeakdistillery.co.uk/where-to-buy-wire-works-whisky/)

The Distillery is open Monday – Saturday for shop visitors, with tours available every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For availability, timings and to book, please visit: www.whitepeakdistillery.co.uk

About Wire Works Whisky Alter Ego:

51.5% ABV

100% natural colour and non-chill filtered.   

Tasting Notes:

Lemon meringue and fruit sweets on the nose, with tropical fruit and biscuits on the palate, with a buttery biscuit finish and light peat.

Nose: Lemon meringue, sherbet, fresh ginger, vanilla pastry, fruit salad sweets and caramel cream.

Palate: Cream soda, honey, light caramel, gingerbread, mango and malted milk biscuits.

Finish: Caramac, gooseberries, short bread and light peat.

About Wire Works Whisky:

Wire Works Whisky from White Peak Distillery is Derbyshire’s very first single malt.

Provenance, heritage and flavour are at the heart of the Distillery ethos and whisky-making process, and its home at the dramatic former Johnson & Nephew Wire Works is celebrated within the whisky brand. The Distillery’s woodland home on the banks of the River Derwent has a long history of innovation and forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Wire Works Whisky celebrates its rich homeland and the brewing heritage for which the region is so renowned. Every aspect of production and maturation is done onsite at the Distillery to ensure that the unique location and environment can play their part in the provenance of the final spirit.

The lightly-peated single malt whisky has been created using a combination of English un-peated and peated malted barley. A flavour-focused four to six day fermentation (varies across seasons) uses a unique yeast blend incorporating live yeast sourced from a local Peak District brewery.

The Distillery’s traditional, bespoke copper pot stills have been hand-built by McMillan and are run slowly to help produce the desired flavour profile. The final spirit is matured in a variety of carefully selected first fill oak casks, including ex-bourbon, virgin and STR (re-conditioned casks that have been shaved, toasted and re-charred), adding the final rich flavours to the whisky.

White Peak Distillery Awards:

2022 and 2023 has seen White Peak also win numerous awards for their whiskies and packaging, as below:

UK Packaging Awards 2022:

• Corrugated Pack of the Year
• Best Packaging of a New Product
• Glass Pack of the Year, Spirits, Perfumes and Cosmetics

The Global World Whisky Masters 2022:

• Necessary Evil: Gold
• Small Batch: Gold

International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) 2022:

• Best Contemporary Design: Wire Works Whisky

International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) 2023:

• Caduro: Gold

People’s Choice Awards 2023:

• Best Whisky: Wire Works Whisky Small Batch – World Whisky Category

English Whisky Guild:

White Peak Distillery is one of the 15 members of the English Whisky Guild, that was founded in 2022 by the English whisky industry to represent the interests of the increasing number of English whisky distilleries (currently there are 40) on the world stage of whisky.

For further information visit:  English Whisky Guild

Award-winning Tomatin whisky: the ideal gift for Father’s Day 2023

Highland distillery unveils its ‘must-have’ whiskies for father figures this June

There is no better way to celebrate a father figure than with a remarkable dram, shared together or gifted as a moment to savour.

Nestled in the heart of the Highlands and famous for its portfolio of spectacular single malts, Tomatin is a distillery full of history, heritage, and charm. Responsible for the award-winning collection is a loyal team, many of whom have worked at the distillery for much of their adult lives, with generations of their families before them.

Family is intrinsic to what makes Tomatin and its whisky so special, making it the ideal choice for a Father’s Day gift.

Tomatin – 12 Year Old single malt (70cl, 43% ABV, £47)

An award-winning flagship from Tomatin’s core range: a silky smooth single malt with a rich and fruity aroma. 

This remarkable 12 Year Old single malt is matured in a combination of ex-bourbon, ex-Spanish sherry and traditional Scotch whisky casks. Initial aromas of wild heather, pine and cedar soon reveal sweeter notes of crème caramel with apples, pears and mango, before a full-bodied and buttery finish.

The quality of this whisky was recognised at the world-renowned International Spirits Challenge receiving Gold in 2022 and 2021, and most recently, picking up a Gold at the San Fransisco World Spirits Competition in 2023.

Available at: https://tomatin.com/ and specialist whisky retailers.  

Tomatin – Legacy single malt (70cl, 43% ABV, £35) 

An exceptional single malt which celebrates the legacy of Tomatin and the enduring spirit of its people.

After being established in 1897 in the heart of the idyllic but isolated village of Tomatin, the distillery required a workforce to manage production. The company began a construction project to accommodate its workforce and since then, the distillery has been at the heart of the community. It is one of the few remaining distilleries which provides a home for its craftsmen and women on-site.

Legacy is a nod to that story.

This unpeated Scotch boasts aromas of vanilla bean, white chocolate, and cinnamon. Time spent in bourbon barrels and virgin oak casks brings a light sweetness to the whisky, which also offers a palate of gentle waves of fresh fruit peppered with ginger before a light, clean finish.

Available at: https://tomatin.com/ and specialist whisky retailers.   

Tomatin – 14 Year Old single malt (70cl, 46% ABV, £75)

A rare single malt from Tomatin’s core range: silky and sweet, benefiting from its time spent in Tawny Port casks

This distinctive 14 year old single malt whisky is matured in a combination of Bourbon barrels and Port casks which have previously held port for around 50 years.

A feather in the cap of Tomatin’s first class wood policy, a rich but balanced aromas of red berries are met with sweet honey and rich toffee which develop into aspects of light fruits and nuts to create an abiding finish of smooth fruit salad.

The quality of this whisky was recognised at the world-renowned International the San Fransisco World Spirits Competition in 2021 picking up Gold and Double Gold in 2019.

Available at: https://tomatin.com/ and specialist whisky retailers

Tomatin – Portuguese Collection 

Experience the magic of Tomatin’s craftsmanship in cask maturations with Tomatin’s Portuguese Collection. The limited-edition collection was launched last year to celebrate the relationship the distillery holds with its cask providers overseas.  

Distilled on 8th September 2006 and laid down in traditional oak casks for over eight years. On 23rd April 2015 the whisky was then moved into Tawny Port, Moscatel de Setúbal and Madeira Wine casks for a further seven years, resulting in a magnificent triad of single malt Scotch Whiskies.

#1 – The Port Edition single malt (70cl, 46% ABV, £90)

The first in the Collection is a unique edition matured in Tawny Port Casks, boasting aromas of Black Forest gateau that are met with warm spices and develop into fresh summer fruits. The taste is deep with forest fruits including blackberries, raspberries, and cherries, alongside sweeter notes of peach and apricot which return on the finish.

#2 – The Moscatel Edition single malt (70cl, 46%, £90)

Part two of the Portuguese Collection is the Moscatel Edition which is matured in Moscatel de Setúbal Casks. This distinctive single malt boasts sweet aromas of marmalade, honey and salted caramel that has a hint of citrus which balances perfectly with ginger and star anise on the palate. A sweet whisky with a long, dessert wine finish.

#3 – The Maderia Edition single malt (70cl, 46%, £90

Part three of the Portuguese Collection is the Maderia Edition which is matured in Maderia Wine casks. Initial aromas of honey and lemon take the lead, while flavours of butterscotch and stewed apples dance on the palate, before a treacly and fruity finish.

Available at: https://tomatin.com/ and specialist whisky retailers.

Tasting notes 

Tomatin 12 Year Old tasting notes

• Nose–Initially herbaceous with aromas of heather, wild mint, pinecones, and cedar soon sweetening to reveal notes of cookie dough, sultanas, caramelized sugar, and pine sap. There is a faint hint of leather and spice.
• Palate–Sweet and malty, reminiscent of a cheesecake base with dried apple, mango, and fresh pears. Crème caramel with raisin and Christmas spice.
• Finish –Buttery, full-bodied fruitiness gives way to tantalisingly dry notes of Oloroso. 

Tomatin Legacy tasting notes

• Nose – Opens with a burst of Bourbon barrel sweetness – aromas of custard cream biscuits, white chocolate, vanilla bean, white sugar, and golden syrup, before hints of sandalwood, desiccated coconut and cinnamon give a nod to the use of Virgin American Oak.
• Palate – Waves of sweet vanilla and fresh fruit with a gentle touch of white pepper and ginger. The quality of the Tomatin spirit is on full display here with pink lady apples, rhubarb, and candied orange peel.
• Finish – Fruit and oak combine to create a clean yet intriguing finish. 

Tomatin 14 Year Old tasting notes

• Nose– Top notes of fresh peach, mandarin, watermelon, and apple with deeper forest fruits like cherry and blackberry. There’s a touch of milk chocolate and a pop of honeycomb. Notes of clove and cardamom grow in intensity before another wave of fruit.
• Palate–The freshness on the nose has been preserved into a raspberry and strawberry jam, apricot compote, glace cherry, and crystallised ginger. Caramelised figs, prunes and nutty tones are indicative of the rich tawny port that once occupied these casks.
• Finish–A silky texture coats the mouth with jammy fruits and Byzantium spice. 

Tomatin Portuguese Collection tasting notes 

The Port Edition: The initial aroma is that of Black Forest gateau, with warm spices developing into fresh summer fruits. The taste is deep with forest fruits; blackberries, raspberries and cherries, but the sweeter notes of peach and apricot return on the finish.

The Moscatel Edition: Sweet aromas of marmalade, honey and salted caramel with a hint of citrus balance perfectly with ginger and star anise on the palate. A sweet whisky with a long, dessert wine finish.

The Madeira Edition: Pronounced aromas of honey and lemon take the lead, while flavours of butterscotch and stewed apples dance on the palate. The finish is treacly and fruity.

About Tomatin  

Tomatin is located in the Scottish Highlands (near Inverness) and is famous for its portfolio of soft and mellow whiskies, including a core range, a limited-edition range and a premium archive range (prices range from £35 – £17,500). Tomatin Single Malt is owned by Japanese company Takara Shuzo International

Tomatin has been dedicated to protecting its craft, its environment and particularly its community, which is at the very heart of the brand. Many of the craftspeople working on site have been doing so their entire working lives – all working towards producing a wide range of single malts, beloved across the world.

In 2022, Tomatin launched its new brand platform, ‘To What Matters’ – designed to remind people about the important things in life. ‘To What Matters’ is the latest chapter in the brand’s evolution; a positive call to arms that represents the spiritual DNA of Tomatin – a human belief in what’s truly important in life. The significant moments.

Recognition of the Highland distillery’s craftsmanship continues to grow globally.  In 2022, Tomatin was awarded ‘Scotch Whisky Producer of the Year’ and ‘Outstanding Spirits Producer of the Year’ at the International Wine & Spirit Competition. Later that year, it was recognised as ‘Sustainable Distillery of the Year’ at Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky 2023, in recognition of its continued contribution to sustainably at the distillery.

In 2023, Tomatin’s Legacy single malt, part of the core range, was awarded Gold at the International Wine & Spirit Competition. It also took home seven awards at the San Fransisco World Spirits Competition, while Cù Bòcan, which is produced at the distillery in limited batches every winter, took home three.

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We’ve got the dads covered this Father’s Day!

Peat Chimney bottles up all the smoke and peaty character of the west coast of Scotland. Perfect for cosying up on a blustery Scottish day or taking out and about through the glens when the sun appears. Either way, this is the perfect treat for Father’s Day this year. If he prefers a sweeter expression or something a bit spicy in his whisky then why not purchase one of our different core range bottlings: The Hive or Spice King.

Richly smouldering and sumptuous

~ Peat Chimney

Abuzz with anticipation and possibility

~ The Hive

At once intense and exhilarating

~ Spice King

Send him on an exploration of bold flavour and vivid expression.

Shop Core Range UK

Shop Core Range EU

Or is he into something more exclusive and sweeter?

Nectar Grove is a sweet whisky that has been matured in ex-Madeira Wine casks from the exciting and flavour rich Portuguese islands off the west coast of Africa. Sun-baked peaches on the nose, a sumptuous rich vanilla essence building into a warm finish of complex spices. Quite the blend making quite the dram… We are very lucky to have access to such high quality oak casks, and any father will be even luckier to taste the spoils!

Shop Nectar Grove UK

Shop Nectar Grove EU

Whisky Magazine issue #192
Be the first to get your hands on our latest issue!

The cover stars for this issue are the team behind Kyrö Whisky. Not content with establishing a pioneering rye whisky producer in Finland, the founders of Kyrö Distillery Company are on a mission to change the wider whisky industry for the better.

GET YOUR COPY TODAY

Hakata 16 Year Old Sherry Cask Aged Fukuoka 100% Barley Japanese Whisky (750ml) $149.99 View

96 points Whisky Advocate

 A spectacular drink that opens with aromas of Seville orange marmalade, milk chocolate, ground pepper, barley, and soft rounded oak, with an underlying dryness from the sherry. The umami notes are there, but are more integrated than other Hakata. An oily texture bursting with bitter plain chocolate, citrus oil, fresh walnut, black cherry, pepper, and ground ginger, develops an underlying creaminess and serves up a hazelnut finish. (JM, Summer 2023)  (9/2023)

K&L Notes

The Hikari Distillery on Fukuoka has been distilling since 1912. This wonderful product is produced from 100% barley using koji to break down the complex carbohydrates into simple sugars for the yeast to consume. The conversion using Koji is more efficient than malt enzymes and adds a distinct umami character to the spirit. The high quality barley spirit is aged in fresh sherry butts in traditional warehouses, some being open air and exposed to both the humid 95 °F summer weather and the cold winter temps. The exceptional 16 year version of Hakata achieved an incredible 96 points from Whisky Advocate!

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